The Anguilla National Trust (ANT) is hosting a series of free public events this week to celebrate local and regional wildlife and natural spaces.
The environment and heritage charity will be working alongside international conservation partners who will be on island from Monday, 23 February.
The series begins on Tuesday, 24 February, at 6pm with a screening of the documentary ‘Saint Lucia: The Wild Side’ at Altitude Lounge, located upstairs at the Clayton J Lloyd International Airport.
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Co-producer Lyndon John will introduce the film and will be on hand for a post-screening question-and-answer session.
“As the first feature-length wildlife film produced for Saint Lucia, the documentary highlights the island’s unique biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes,” ANT said in a press release.
On Thursday, 26 February, ANT will partner with first-time author Serena Connor and other celebrated resident authors for the first public reading of her children’s book, ‘Fran the Firefly’.
The event will take place at the Public Green Space at sunset and will be followed by a ‘Nature at Night’ hike led by ANT staff and scientific experts from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Participants will explore the surrounding area in search of nocturnal wildlife and learn more about species that are especially active after dark.
On Saturday, 28 February, participants will meet at 6.15am for a 6.30am departure for a circuit hike beginning in Sandy Ground (meeting at the former LIT Lounge parking lot).
The route will take hikers to the top of Shannon Hill before returning along the coastline. The hike involves wading through water up to waist height in some areas.
The hike is rated easy to moderate and should take between one and one and a half hours. Participants are advised to wear sneakers or hiking shoes that can get wet.
Later that evening at 6.30pm, ANT will host ‘Nature Talks’ on the rooftop patio at Good Korma.
The event will feature short presentations from ANT representatives and visiting experts, highlighting conservation work taking place in Anguilla and across the region.
All events are free due to funding donors including the UK Government’s Darwin Plus Initiative, and are open to the public.
Light refreshments will be available, but attendees are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles to help reduce single-use plastic waste.
Registration is required for the Sandy Ground circuit hike. More information is available from the Anguilla National Trust at (264) 235-5297.
